Tape applicator and applying and cutting tongue



Dec. 27, 1955 c. w. voe'r 2,728,477

TAPE APPLICATOR AND APPLYING AND CUTTING TONGUE Filed Dec. 15. 1952 2Sheets-Sheet l h/ s ATTORNEY-.5-

Dec. 27, 1955 (i. w. VOGT 2,723,477

TAPE APPLICATOR AND APPLYING AND CUTTING TONGUE Filed Dec. 13. 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 F3 i 1 I 2 4 li' v! INVENTOR. CLARENCE W Vaar hw W nitedStates Patent TAPE APPLICATOR AND APPLYING AND CUTTING TONGUE ClarenceW. Vogt, N orwalk, Conn.

Application December 13, 1952, Serial No. 325,808

8 Claims. (Cl. 216-33) The present invention relates to devices forholding rolls of adhesive tape and for dispensing and applying the tapefrom such rolls to desired surfaces and embodies an improved device ofsimple and unitary construction and by means of which rolls of suchmaterial may be easily used and also readily replaced to permitcontinued use of the device indefinitely.

The invention relates generally to devices such as shown in applicantscopending applications Serial Nos. 297,459 and 303,587 and has for anobject the provision of a device'of the above character that may beeasily and inexpensively made and conveniently used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a de vice of the abovecharacter that may be made, if desired, by simple molding operations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, as an article ofmanufacture, a tongue or pressure member formed not only effectively toapply tape material to a desired surface, but also with means tofacilitate the severing of the tape after a desired length thereof hasbeen applied to a surface.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as it isdescribed in greater detail in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in longitudinal section showing a tape applyingmechanism made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation partly broken away and in sectionshowing the device of Figure 1 in the tape applying position;

Figure 3 is a partial view in side elevation similar to Figure 2 showingthe device of Figures 1 and 2 as it is being moved into the tapesevering position;

Figure 4 is a partial view similar to Figure 3 showing the position ofthe device as it severs the tape;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device of Figure l with the tape and tapeapplying tongue removed;

Figure 6 is a partial view in section taken on the line 66 of Figure 1and looking in the direction of the arrows and with the tongue removed;

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of the tape applying tongue of thisinvention;

Figure 8 is a view in side elevation of the tongue shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the tongue of Figure7;

Figure 10 is a view in section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing a modified formof the invention.

Referring to the above drawings (all of which are in enlarged scale) atape applying device is shown comprising a body formed of side walls 12connected by a forward bridge 13 and rear bridge 14, the latter beingformed with an opening 14' if desired. The upper edges of the side wallsmay be formed with a curved profile, as shown at 15, the device beingadapted to receive a roll of adhesive tape 16 between the side walls andthe roll preferably resting upon the rear bridge 14 as is illustrated inFigure 1.

In using the device, the side walls are grasped between the thumb andfingers other than the forefinger, the latter resting against theforward bridge 13. The bridge 13 is preferably formed with a curvedprofile as indicated at 17 in order to provide a convenient shape topermit the forefinger to apply pressure to the device.

Intermediate the forward and rear bridge there is pro vided a cross bar18 over which the tape material 19 passes as it is withdrawn from theroll and, in order that the free end 20 of the tape may be snubbedagainst returning over the bar 18, oppositely spaced snubber lugs 21 areformed to project inwardly from the side walls 12 at the edges thereof.By providing spaced lugs 21 rather than a solid bar, threading of thetape through the device is facilitated;

in accordance with this invention, a pressure tongue 22 is provided as aseparate and replaceable element. It is made of flexible material havingsufficient rigidity to transmit the pressure exerted upon the device tothe tape that is being applied to a desired surface (as illustrated inFigure 2) and preferably is yieldably deformable in order that the areaof contact of the tongue and tape may be as large as possible. Inpractice it has been found that the tongue 22 may be made of plasticmaterial preferably having a convex bow 23 with a reentrant inner end24. A reverse bend 25 in the end 24 provides a recess for engaging thebar 18. Spaced inwardly projecting lugs 26 are provided on the innersides of side walls 11 in order that'the end 24 may be held in assembledposition. As will be seen from Figure 1, the lugs 26 are spacedsufliciently far from the bar 18 to receive the end 24, the shape of thelugs serving to position the end 24 under tension in said position.

The outer end of the tongue is formed with a cutting element 27 (Figures7, 8 and 9), this element beingv formed of a reversely bent portion 28on the outer extremity of the tongue. Prior to bending, the portion 28is corrugated as indicated at 29 (Figures 7 and 9) and the extremitiesof the corrugations are angularly ground shear cut, or otherwise formedas shown at 30 and 31 thus to form piercing projections 32 and cuttingedges 33. After the portion 28 is bent into the position illustrated inFigure 8, the rounded outwardly projecting convolutions 34 serve toprotect the surface upon which the tape is being applied from beingmarred or scuffed by the projections 32 or cutting edges 33 inasmuch asthese rounded convolutions are the elements that will engage thesurfaces if any portion of the tongue does.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the forward bridge is formed with aninwardly extending backing surface 35 against which the cutting element27 engages when tape is being applied. The tongue is also formed with asnubbing surface 36 which is adapted to force the adhesively coated sideof the tape against the snubber lugs 21 and prevent the escape of thefree end 20 of the tape between tape applying operations.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 11, the corrugated cuttingelement 37 is formed in or secured to the forward bridge 13. The outerend of the bar 23 of the tongue is then formed at 38 to merely restagainst the bridge 13 during the applying operation.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the holder and roll of tape normally reston the rear bridge 14 whereas, in use, the forward bridge is moveddownwardly in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Figures 1 and2) to cause the desired pressure to be exerted upon the tape and surfaceto which it is applied. The arrows in Figures 3 and 4 indicate themotion which may take place during the movement just prior to severingof the tape by the cutting edge previously-described.

In operation "it is found that if the depth of the corrugations equalsthe distances between adjacent piercing projections 32 a highlyeffective cutter results. The material of the tongue and/or cuttingelement 27 may be of metal or plastic and the cutter may be formedintegral therewith or, if preferred, it may be separately formed andsuitably secured thereto. In Figures "3 and 4 an arrow marked Xindicates the point at which the tape is to be severed and at which theframe and tongue are turned in a counterclockwise direction (as viewedin these figures) to initiate the severing operation. The cuttingoperation, in view of the structure herein above described, involvesfirst apiercing of the tape at a plurality of points and then a cuttingthrough the balance of the tape by cutting edges 33.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an improved formof tape applying mechanism that is simple in structure and easilyoperated to apply "tape effectively to desired surfaces. Moreover, theinvention includes an improved form of tape cutting mechanism,

as hereinabove described, as well as a tape applying tongue which mayconstitute, as an article of manufacture, a replaceable unit in the tapeapplying mechanism above referred to.

I claim:

1. A tape applying mechanism comprising a body member formed with spacedside walls, forward and rear bridges connecting the side Walls, the rearbridge member being formed with a roll receiving surface, 'a pressureapplying surface on the forward bridge, a bar connecting the side wallsintermediate the bridges, afiex'ible tape applying tongue formed with apressure surface adjacent the outer end thereof, tape snubbing means onthe body member and adjacent which the tongue is yieldingly urged, andmeans on the side Walls adjacent the bar to facilitate securing the tapeapplying tongue to the body member.

2. A tape applying mechanism comprising a body member formed with spacedside walls, forward and rear bridges connecting the side walls, the rearbridge member being formed with a roll receiving surface, a pressureapplying surface on the forward bridge, a bar con necting the side wallsintermediate the bridges, spaced inwardly extending tape snubbing lugson the side walls adjacent the bottom of the body member, andmeans-adjacent the bar to facilitate securing a tape applying tongue tothe body member.

3. A tape applying mechanism comprising a body member formed with spacedside walls, forward and rear bridges connecting the side walls, the rearbridge member being formed with a roll receiving surface, a pressureapplying surface on the forward bridge, a bar connecting the side wallsintermediate the bridges, and an inwardly extending lug on at least oneof the side walls spaced from the bar to facilitate securing a tapeapply ing tongue to the body member.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the forward bridge is formedwith a recess to receive the outer end of the tape applying tongue uponapplication of pressure thereto.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the tongue is formed with areentrant inner end to engage between the bar and the means on the sidewall adjacent the bar.

6. An article of manufacture comprising a strip of resilient material,said strip having a portion formed with concavo=convex curvatureadjacent to one end thereof, said strip being bent reversely at one endand having a cutting member on the reversely bent. end at the con- 'vexside of said strip, said cutting member being disposed substantiallytangent to said concave-convex portion of said strip and having acutting edge facing back along the convex side of said strip, and meansat the other end of said concavo-convex portion for engaging an elementof a tape applying device to secure said strip to said device.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the "cutting"member is corrugated and beveled at its outer end to provide a cuttingedge.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the cuttingmember is corrugated with the outer end thereof beveled upon oppositesides to form spaced piercing points and intermediate cutting edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSPangburn et al July 10, 1951

